How to Buy an Acoustic Guitar

Have you at last made a decision to learn how to play guitar? Well, if you have and you've also made a decision that those deafening electric guitars are not for you, then the next step is to choose what kind of best acoustic guitar to buy.

Buying an acoustic guitar, however, is not as easy as it might seem. There are quite a few varieties of gibson acoustic guitar available and a broad range of prices.

Be prepared to pay about $100 for a beginners guitar and don't be surprised if you discover guitars costing $5,000 or more. You may pay less for an foreign, factory-made guitar than for a North American hand-made guitar.

This extreme price range is due to the quality of the materials used and the level of craftsmanship. It is crucial to understand however, that there are numerous superb guitars constructed that are generally relatively inexpensive. The level of guitar production has improved considerably over the previous few years and many superb guitars can be acquired for under $500. Even though it is tempting to buy a more costly guitar, the average beginner does not necessarily need a guitar of that caliber and may not even be able to appreciate it.

Here are some guidelines for buying an acoustic guitar:

1. Decide on your price range. Before you walk into your favorite guitar shop determine how much you are prepared to pay beforehand. The following chart will give you a general idea of precisely what to expect:

Up to $500 - good beginners guitar

$500 - $1,000 - intermediate range

$1,000 - $2,000 - serious student

$2,000 - $5,000 - semi-professional or professional

$5,000+ - professional guitarist or you just love fine guitars and can afford it.

2. Determine if you want a soundboard made from genuine wood. A lot of low-cost guitars have plywood soundboards. The better guitars have soundboards produced from spruce or cedar. Spruce or cedar soundboards produce a significantly better sound as compared to plywood. There are a couple of guitar companies that make low-priced guitars with real wood soundboards.

3. Try out different styles. Each guitar maker will have many styles of guitar, many in the same model category. Different styles may include dreadnaught, jumbo, grand concert, etc. These styles are somewhat generic but vary a bit between manufacturers. These names refer generally to the shape and dimension of the guitar which will determine the sound of the guitar to a certain extent. You may also have to decide if you desire a cutaway design or a more traditional non-cutaway style.

4. Do you want to get a nylon string classical guitar or a steel string? Nylon string guitars are a lot easier on the fingers if you are a beginner, but their necks are wider which means you have to stretch your fingers a little bit more. Steel string acoustics possess a more narrow neck but the steel strings are a little bit painful if you have not yet created calluses on your left hand.

Classical guitars are best used for fingerstyle playing and are best suited to classical, jazz and latin styles whereas a steel string acoustic is better suited to strumming chords and using a pick.

5. Do you want to amplify your guitar? If you think that you might want to amplify your fender acoustic guitar then consider obtaining an acoustic guitar with a built in pickup and preamp. This will permit you to plug your guitar into an amplifier without the need for a microphone.

You are now prepared to visit your local guitar shop and try out a few guitars. In the end, the final decision on which acoustic guitar to buy ought to be dependent on finding a guitar that you enjoy playing and that has a sound that is satisfying to you. After you get that new guitar, then the only thing left to do is to learn how to play it.